Fire-escape



UNITED STATES ATENT @rrrcn.

PETER S. KEGK AND JOHN J. SCHADT, OF ALLENTOVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,255, dated December 15, 1885.

Application filed August 6, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PETER S. K130i; and- JOHN J. SCHADT, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes in which the platform is hung to slides and vertical guides secured to the building, and counterbalanced with sliding weights, and controlled while being raised or lowered by means of a brake and other suitable mechanism; and the objects of our improvements are, first, to provide greater facility in conveying persons and with greater safety than the ordinary fire-ladders afford, especially in the case of high buildings; second, the landing of passengers on terra firma, instead of suspending them one story above ground, as ladders usually are erected. We attain these objects by the mechanism illus trated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view or elevation of the several parts embodied in our invention. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same; Fig. 3, a top view, and Fig. 4 a horizontal section through the slide and guide bar.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The apparatus or fire-escape consists of three partsviz., the hanger, the platform, and the guide-bars. The hanger consists of a shaft, A, supported on brackets B, secured to wall at the top of building, attached to which are two pulleys, O, with V- jointed grooves on the face, in which wire ropes D, or its equivalent, have their bearings. In addition to the above, the said shaft has a brake, E, to control the plat-form. The brake consists of a pulley keyed to the shaft, and a steel spring, e, secured to wall or bracket, bent to the form, as shown in Fig. 2, directly under and over the pulley E. To the lower end or arm of spring is attached a wire or rope, F, and passes up and over a pin secured to upper end or arm of spring, so that any weight applied to the rope F brings Serial No. 178,747. (No model.)

the spring-arms to bear on the pulley E and braking the hanger-shaft which controls the platform. The platform consists of projecting wrought-iron arms or brackets G, the ends of which are bolted or riveted to slides H, the two vertical sides of which are grooved to receive the guide -bars I and the grooved sheaves h h, to reduce the friction when the platform is raised or lowered.

The bars or rails g 9, together with the pro: jecting arms G, constitute the frame-work of the platform, and to this frame-work is secured a slatted or other floor, in the usual manner. To the platform are attached the wire ropes D, which pass over the grooved pulleys O, secured to counterbalance sliding weights J, constructed substantially the same as slides H. To the frame of platform is also attached a wire or rope, M, for the purpose of bringing the platform to any desired position on the building. The guide-bars I, extending vertically from the top to the bottom of building, are secured to ledges K, attached to the building, placed horizontally at proper intervals. On top of the lower ledge are secured spring-blades L, to prevent the concussion of aloaded platform. The position of the platform is intended to be at or near the top of the building near the hanger. This is effected by having the sliding weights somewhat heavier than the platform, and the weight attached to the brake-rope sufficiently heavy to gently apply the brake and keep it in position.

To operate the device, which is placed in front of windows in the usual manner, it is necessary to lower the platform by means of the rope M to the desired point, then taking hold on the rope F and applying the required pressure to brake the platform. The person or persons stepping on the same are then lowered by gravity at any desired speed by retaining hold on the brake-rope. After the load is removed, the platform resumes its position at the top of the building.

'What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of shaft A, frame G g, pulleys O, weights J, having rollers h, guides I I, brackets B B, wheel E, springs e e, and 1 In testimony whereof We affix our signatures IO cords D and F, substantially as shown and in presence of two Witnesses.

described.

2. The combination of the shaft A, pulleys PETER S. KEOK. 5 G E, Weights J, slide H, guides I, bars K, JOHN J. SCHADT.

brackets B, springs e, and weighted brakeropeF, secured to the lower spring and passed Witnesses:

over the upper spring, ropes D, and frame G PETER W. H. DESHLER,

g, substantially as specified. FRANKLIN J. NEWHARD. 

